Question: Adelaide Youth Training Centre

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:37):I have a question for the Minister for Education. How is the government supporting the specialised staff who deliver educational programs at the Youth Training Centre at Cavan?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (14:37):Has the member just asked me how we are supporting staff who work at Cavan in the educational effort?

Mr GARDNER: Who delivers the specialised education programs at Cavan.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: We have excellent staff there. I was visiting very recently in fact to talk to the people who offer training there. They do an outstanding job both within the two facilities that the students are unable to leave as a result of court orders and also in the allied campus, which is out in public, which was originally designed essentially for the students to be able to continue their studies after leaving the facility run by DCSI.

That in fact is now stretching a little more broadly than that. It has quite a range of students who have had nothing to do with the DCSI facility but who nonetheless are well served by that campus. The principal is doing an excellent job, having previously worked on the lands. I commend all the staff who are involved in that effort.

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:38): A supplementary: why did department senior officials walk out of a recent negotiation with staff representatives at Cavan in relation to arguments over a range of matters, including staff rosters?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (14:38): There are many, many industrial actions that occur from time to time. There are many disputes that arise and disappear again. I can find out the details, if the member is particularly interested in that one, but I am sure that the department is working through that in a considered way.

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:39): A supplementary: is the minister herself familiar with the industrial matters that are in question in relation to Cavan?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (14:39): I am aware that there is an issue, but I am not aware of all the detail. I don't ask to be kept up-to-date in the management of staff, given that that's a responsibility of the chief executive and not the minister.

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:39): A supplementary: given the minister has provided the response that she has, will she now promptly familiarise herself with this issue and ensure that it is resolved fairly?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (14:39): This is the responsibility of the chief executive. Just so that we understand how government works, the chief executive is responsible for employment. The chief executive is responsible for the employment conditions and the chief executive will be working through that.